Hood latch



N. A. MEARS Jan. 7, 1936.

HOOD LATCH Filed Nov. 9, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l In..

Jan. 7, 1936. N. A. MEARs HOOD LATCH Filed NOV. 9, 1932 3 Sheets-.Sheet 2 Jan. 7, 1936.

N. A. MEARS HOOD LATCH Filed Nv. 9, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Harney/L9- v 45 which is mounted the rock shaft C.

Patented Jan. 7, 1936 PATENT ori-ICE HOOD LATCH Norton A. Mears, Chicago, Ill.,assignor to Chicago Forgin.& Manufacturing Co., Chicago,4 lll., a corporation of Illinois Application November 9, 1932, Serial No. 641,878 '4 claims. (ol. 292-48) My invention relates to an improvement in latching means for closures and, more particu- T larly, to an improvement in means for actuating the inside hood latches of a multiple hinged automobile closure, although my invention may be applied to other closures for other mechanisms. One object is the provision of means for adequately latching an automobile hood closure where the latches and Ykeepers have to be positioned at different levels. Another object is the provision of latching means for a hood in which the lower edge is irregularly formed. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims. l5 I illustrate my invention more or'less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is aside elevation; Figure 2 is an inside elevation of the latching mechanism;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig-` ure 2;

Figure 4 is an inside elevation of the locking parts; Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 4 of a variant form:

Figure 7 is a view similar in part to Figure 4, with a slight variation; and r Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7. Like parts .are indicated by like symbols throughout the specication and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a portion of the automobile frame, A1 is the radiator,

A215 part of the body of the automobue, A2 and A4 are abutment portions connected respectively with the body A2 and with the radiator A1.

B generally indicates a multiple hinged hood closure having a lower edge b1 substantially oiset fromthe horizontal, one end of the edge as at B2 being substantially lower than the opposite edge as shown at B3.

C is a base plate provided with bearings C1 in The rock shaft is provided with a central crank oiset C3 and with a terminal crank offsetA C4 at one end, which terminal offset is positioned between the 50 upper bearing loops C6 of the bearing supporting plate C5. 'I'he opposite end of the rock shaft C2 rotates in a. bearing bracket indicated as C1 and terminates in a latching offset or member C". The plate C5 has lower bearing loops C8 in 55 which rotates the shorter rock shaft Cn having a central crank offset C1o connected as by the link C11 with the crank C4 on the rock shaft C2. The shaft C also terminates in a locking crank C1. The locking cranks CI and Cl2 respectively are opposed to any suitable keepers C13 C14. It 5 will be understood that owing to the connection between the crank offsets C4 and C1o the two rock shafts C11 and C9 are constrained to unitary rotation.

In order to rotate the rock shafts and thus m in order to actuate the locking members C7 and C12 I provide an exterior handle D passing through the plate C and through an aperture D1 of the hood closure. It rotates for example in the bearing D2 upset in the plate C. It is pro- 15 vided with an inner crank D3 which is connected as bythe link D4 with the crank C3 on the rock shaft C2. The arc of rotation of the handle D and the crank D3 is limited by any suitable upset stops D5 which engage the extension D6 of `20 the crank D3. D'I is any suitable nut screwthreaded to the inner portion of the handle D, whereby the entire assembly is held together. It will be realized that rotation of the handle D in one direction serves to move the locking mem- 25 bers C'I and C12 from locking into unlocking position and rotation in the other direction serves to move them from unlocking to locking position.

Referring to the form of Figure 6 I illustrate 'a 30 variation of the device in which the rock shaft C3 is provided with an offset crank C4 at each end and where two supplemental rock shafts C9 are employed instead of the single one shown in the form of Figure 1. 35

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device. nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I 40 therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to my specific showing. t

In particular, I Wish it to be understood that whereas I have shown the links C11 as extending downwardly from the main rock shaft C2" they can with equal eiciency be made to extend upwardly from an actuating shaft or one may extend down and one up.

The link C11 is made with a double turn at the top where it engages the crank portion C4, the crank portion being correspondingly somewhat broadened at that point to receive it. This is important when, as in Figure 4, a structure is 56 used in which the crank C4 is in raised position when the device is in locking operation. Even if the device is subjected to considerable vibration there is no possibility of the upper eye of the link C11 from slipping down the sides of the crank C4. In other words, it keeps the device in locked position and in proper operative relation.

In the form of Figures 7 and 8 the handle D is positioned below instead of above the rock shaft C2. The plate C extends downwardly instead of upwardly from the rock shaft, the bearing C1 being on the upper instead of the lower edge of the base plate C. The handle lever D3 is indicated in somewhat different form with a connector G pivoted thereto and in sliding relationship with an elongated crank oiset portion C1 of the rock shaft C2. The locking position is illustrated in full line and the unlocking position in dotted line in Figure 7.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to my specific showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

It sometimes happens, in the employment of multiple hinge closures for automobile hoods, that the frame is offset from the horizontal, giving the lower edge of the hood an irregular formation. Such a structure is shown in Figure 1. I find it in such case desirable, rather than tilting the rock shaft C2, to provide an extension or a supplemental rock shaft, such as C9, which can be actuated, as by the link C11; In the form of Figure 1 a single rock shaft is employed. If the hood closure is otherwise arranged, as in case some mechanism interferes with the positioning of the handle D or if the edge is upwardly offset in the center, as in the form of Figure 6, thenI may iind it necessary to employ a supplemental shaft C9 at each end of the hood, as shown in Figure 6. As above explained, the double eye or loop at the upper end of the link C11 prvents it from slipping down on the crank offset C4, and keeps the parts in proper locking relationship.

Referring to the form of Figures 'l and 8, as contrasted to Figures 1 and following, the handle shaft is rotatably positioned below instead of above the rock shaft, a disposition which may be advantageous for example in case the spacing of louvers or other hood openings is close. In other words, in the form of Figure 7 as contrasted to Figure 1, the handle shaft may penetrate the hood at a point below the lower edges of the louvers.

I claim:

1. In an automobile hood closure having a lower edge terminating at one end at an elevation appreciably above that of the opposite end to provide a long end and a short end for said closure, means for securing the lower edge of said hood in closed position comprising a latch member adjacent to the lower edge of the hood at the short end thereof, a latch operating rock shaft extending inwardly of thel hood from said short end, a second latch member adjacent to the lower edge of the hood at the long end thereof, a second latch operating rock shaft extending inwardly of the hood from said long end of the hood, said rock shafts beingoperatively cofinected respectively to the first and second men tioned latch members, and a single latch operating means positioned on said closure intermediate said latch members, and operatively con- 5 nected to both of said rock shafts.

2. In an automobile hood closure having a lower edge terminating at one end at an elevation appreciably above that of the opposite end to provide a long end and a short end for said clo- 10 sure, means for securing the lower edge of said hood in closed position comprising a latch member adjacent to the lower edge of the hood at the short end thereof, a latch operating rock shaft extending inwardly of the hood from said short 15 end, a second latch member adjacent to the lower edge of the hood at the long end thereof, a second latch operating rock shaft extending inwardly of the hood from said long end of the hood, said rock shafts being operatively connected respec- I0 tively to the first and second mentioned latch members, and a single latch operating means positioned on said closure and operatively connected to the lrst mentioned rock shaft intermediate the ends thereof, and a connecting link 25 between the rst and second mentioned rock shafts whereby both shafts are operatively connected to the latch operating means.

3. In an automobile hood closure having a lower edge terminating at one end at an eleva- 30 tion appreciably above that of the opposite end to provide a long end and a short end for said closure, means for securing the lower edge of said hood in closed position comprising a latch member adjacent te the lower edge of the hood at the 86 short end thereof, a latch operating rock shaft extending inwardly of the hood from said short end, said rock shaft being provided on its inner end with an offset portion forming a crank, a second latch member adjacent to the lower edge 60 of the hood at the long end thereof, a second latch operating rock shaft extending inwardly of the hood from said long edge oi' the hood, said rock shafts being operatively connected respectively to the rst and second men- 45 tioned latch members, said rock shaft being provided at its inner end with an offset portion forming a crank, the crank portions of the first and second rock shaft members being substantially in vertical alinement. and a single latch 50 operating means positioned on the closure intermediate said latch members and directly connected to one of said rock shafts, and a link connecting the cranks of said rock shafts for simultaneously actuating the latch members. 66 4. In an automobile hood closure having the lower edge terminating at one end at an elevation appreciably above that of the opposite end to provide an appreciably greater vertical dimension at the rear end than at the front end there. 60 of, means for securing the lower edge of the closure in closed position comprising a latch member positioned adjacent the lower front corner of the hood, a latch operating rock shaft operatively associated with the latch member and extending o5 inwardly of the hood from its forward edge, said rock shaft being provided at its inner extremity with an arcuate crank portion, a latch operating member positioned on the closure and connected 70 directly to said rock shaft intermediate the latch and said crank portion, a second latch member positioned adjacent the lower rear corner of the closure, a second rock shaft operatively connected to said second latch member and extendu of said arcuate link portions extends to thereby center the link with reference to the arcuate crank portion, said connecting link operating to move the second rock shaft in unison with theiirst rock shaft in response to operation of the 5 latch operating member.

NORTON A. MEARS. 

